The Primary Program

Growing and Learning in the Heartland

            Page

I.               Preface.. i

II.            Getting Started. 1

III.         The Knowledge Base—

Understanding How Young Children Develop and Learn

            Guiding Principles and Goals of The Primary Program 15

            Position Statements

                        The Primary Program for All Children            41

                        Achieving High Standards            45

                        Ethics in Early Childhood Education            49

                        Home, School, and Community Partnerships that Work            51

                        Building Effective School Teams            53

                        Active Learning Through Play    55

                        Teaching to the Ways Children Learn 57

                        School Readiness            59

                        Tracking and Retention            61

                        Assessment of Young Children            63

                        Class Size    67

                        Technology and Young Children            69

                        Grouping for Learning            73

                        Position Statement Resources            75

IV.         The Learning Environment and Teacher as Decision Maker

            Partnerships with Families and Communities          83

            Considerations for Implementation    105

            Cultural Diversity in Learning and Learners            117

            Easing Transitions            133

            Active Learning in the Classroom

                                   Common Understandings     151

                                   Planning for Learning            165

                                    Classroom Organization         171

            Technology in the Primary Curriculum            187

V.            Curriculum and Assessment—Teaching and Learning

            Widely-Held Expectations            201

            Goals for Development and Learning

                        Aesthetic and Artistic Development in the Primary Program            223

                        Social and Emotional Development in the Primary Program            261

                        Intellectual Development in the Primary Program            269

                                   Language Arts in the Primary Program            271

                                               Language Arts Appendix            377

                                   Mathematics in the Primary Program            387

                                   Sciences in the Primary Program            423

                        Physical Development and Well Being in the Primary Program            435

                                   Physical Education in the Primary Program            437

                                   Health and Well-Being in the Primary Program            453

                        Development of Responsibility in the Primary Program            459

                                   Social Studies in the Primary Program            461

                                   Responsible Living in the Primary Program            473

            Assessment and Evaluation in the Primary Program            487

                                               Assessment and Evaluation Appendix            539

            Integrated Curriculum in the Primary Program            553

VI.         Credits

Contributors                     587

VII.      State Information